Page 142 of Uncrowned

“Marian’s mother, Melissa, was second in charge at the US’s… place like this, so I had to deal with her. I can’t really explain it. She… messed with my mind. She’s a hypnotist. I knew that, but I can’t believe how she pulled it off. I told her things, Penelope.” My eyes met hers. “I gave her personal information about my Masters. Some lost a lot of money, estates. There are wives filing for divorce. Divorce. I would have died before telling anyone such private matters. She used the information I gave her to extort things from them. She even went as far as having affairs with a few of them while she was in town. What she did, she can’t pay for. Marian can.”

Penelope gasped. “But—But—You can’t take your anger out on Marian. She had no idea that was happening. She hated her mother.”

“You know how The Order works. Someone must pay. The Masters demand it. I demand it. Marian will take her mother’s punishment in blood, but we will lock her to us in oath.”

Confusion.

“What are you talking about? Lock her to us?”

I licked my lips trying to decide whether or not I should tell her yet.

“It is the only way, Penelope. Our blood is strong. Marian’s… I almost⁠—”

My brow crinkled as I fought morality. Penelope was already mad, and I knew telling her this would be a nail in my own coffin.

“Before I chose you, I contemplated choosing Marian. I even talked to Melissa about it years back. Her line is supreme. Melissa, of course, denied the offer⁠—”

Crack!

The slap was so loud and powerful, sound wavered in my ears.

“Leave my room. Now.”

“Penelope—”

“Another omission. All those months we texted…You had so many opportunities to somehow tell me. You didn’t once hint at it. Leave.”

“No.”

She dove for me, but I had her on her back so fast, Penelope was trapped. She tried to buck and twist me off, but I used my weight, holding her down. My lips crushed into hers and pain sliced into my lip at her bite. I jerked back, tasting blood.

“You could die for that.”

“Kill me or leave, because if you do that again, I will rip your lip off.”

Tears raced down the sides of her face, and the sob had my grip loosening.

“You are so angry, Penelope. What did she do to you? What did Katia tell you about me?”

Blue eyes cut over to meet mine. “She told me what you should have said from the beginning.” Her lip trembled following the new sob. “I trusted you. I believed you. It was all lies.” Another sob.

“What lies? You were not ready to hear my story.”

“You took me. You’re forcing me to be your queen. I deserved to know I wasn’t… special. That it was all about blood and power and nothing about me. You lied to get me to comply, just like you lied to the half dozen other women you took and killed. Did you do it for her? For your mistress, Bella? You loved her, did you not? You really wanted to marry her, but you couldn’t because she has no royal or noble blood. Did I get that right?”

I should have felt angry. I had when she’d brought up Bella before. All I felt at seeing her pain was… sadness. Not to mention, astonishment at the lies. The combination had my heart constricting. I let go of her hands, using the pad of my thumbs to wipe the tears.

Shifting, I eased my weight, keeping my place on top of her.

“Penelope, I’m considerably older than you. A little over a decade. I’ve done things I’m not proud of. I’ve made mistakes.”

“So, you’re admitting it?”

“No. Not even close. Katia lied to you. She did her best to turn you against me, and she damn near succeeded. I didn’t tell you about Marian because it wasn’t the time, not to mention they would have known it was me. I didn’t do it to try to hide it from you. I told you now. I was honest. I will never lie to you. Secrets between a king and queen could result in death.” I lowered, kissing her forehead. “I want you as my queen more than anything. I love you. That’s the truth.” I cradled her face with my palm. “Let’s start from the beginning. How about that?”

Skeptical blue eyes studied me as I eased half of my body from hers. I kept one leg between hers as I brushed back her hair.

“You’re not going to lie to me, no matter what I ask? You’ll be brutally honest, even if it hurts my feelings?”